Joshua Jerome

Ryan Gallagher
Advanced Placement Literature
16 November 2010

Plum Plum Pickers, chapter 10 section 7

 
  Through the story of Manuel Gutierrez’s struggles, and his defiance towards Roberto Morales
when finally pushed to the limit, The Plum Plum Pickers develops into a story that speaks volumes about
the human condition and the flaws that surround the human race. Barrio accentuates the reality that
human beings are willing to hold back their counterparts as a result of greed, and hatred for one another,
and yet the desire to live life to the fullest potential allows those suppressed individuals to find strength,
and rise above the injustices that plague them. In passage seven from The Plum PlumPickers, Raymond
Barrio experiments with the idea that the human will cannot, and will not be subjugated despite the
hardships that humans pass upon one another, ultimately establishing his point that the flaws within the
very fabrics of human nature can be conquered by the more positive aspects of it. Through references to
wild beasts and the struggle that Barrio depicts between the different forces of nature, the reader
understands that the external hardships that he presents are indicative of the psychological struggle
between the negative and positive aspects of humanity ways.
The passage opens with Barrio depicting a trapped Manuel Gutierrez, as a result of his inability to
surmount the difficulties regarding his current situation. The futility of Manuel’s situation is emphasized
as it is revealed to the reader “no matter which way he turned, he was trapped in an endless maze” (Barrio
91). Barrio, suggests that like a maze that one cannot escape; like Manuel human beings also cannot
escape their current situation, both physically and psychologically, and at times it becomes very confusing
because progress constantly comes to a standstill. Barrio goes on to depict the “neatly planted row” of
apricot trees, as “the blackest bars on the jails of hell” (Barrio 91). Once again, the reader is able to get an
idea of the inhibited sentiments that are plaguing Manuel, in addition to the idea that fruit trees in harvest,
which are synonymous with the maintenance of life, are being described as a holding place in hell: one of
the final resting places for the tormented sole. When this is looked at in context of Barrio commenting on
the ever conflicting aspects of human nature, it becomes clear that many times in the struggle between the
two, it becomes unclear which is which, and yet the struggle continues.
Barrio goes on to introduce the resolve that Manuel has in order to survive, which serves to
reveal a transformation taking place within him. This is illustrated when Manuel realizes that “there had
to be an end” to the madness that was his enslavement “there had to be” (91). Gradually, the inner
struggle to dismiss the oppressive forces that are consuming Manuel become more apparent, as he stood
“there-trapped”, he realized that “there must be a way out”(91). For the first time, the reader sees Manuel
devising decisive conclusions about his future, and acknowledging the fact that he wanted to leave his
current situation. However, that resolve is challenged by the apparent hopelessness of the situation, and
Manuel’s human desire to give up:“Locked. There had to be a respite. Animal. The buckets and the crates
kept piling up higher. Brute”(91). Through these short and interrupting clauses, Barrio takes the reader
back and forth with the thoughts of Manuel, and how he was feeling. At that particular point and time,
Barrio wants for the reader to witness first hand the internal conflict that takes place within human beings
that are placed in a tough situation, and are trying to overcome even as the problems seemed to be
growing. The struggle continues as Barrio depicts how Manuel “felt alone” even amongst other pickers
(91). From there, Barrio goes on to describe all of Manuel’s actions as “brute”. At this point, the physical
requirements are so taxing on both Manuel’s body and psyche, that he is reduced to “a truly refined wreck
of an animal”(92). This was not what Manuel wanted for himself, yet the selfish ambitions of those who
Joshua Jerome
Ryan Gallagher
Advanced Placement Literature
16 November 2010

employed him, and the injustice that he is treated with have led him to become this. Barrio utilizes this
example to reveal the effects that such negative behavior and practices towards fellow human beings
accomplish: in treating one another inhumanely, they are essentially being stripped of those very qualities
that make them human.
Moreover, Barrio goes back reestablishes Manuel’s humanity, as the section comes to a close in
order to accentuate the change that has taken place within him. For a time, Manuel is able to take a “short
rest in the hot shade” which serve to revitalize him temporarily (92). However, this respite was only the
eye of the storm, as Manuel had much more to endure before his ordeals were ended permanently. He
awakes to the sight of “the trees. The branches again. The briarly branches. The scratching leaves….”
(92) From this listing, it is clear that Barrio is presenting the world from the eyes of a very disoriented and
disheveled Manuel, which continues up until “his mind whirred” and “he blacked out” (92). By allowing
the readers to see the world from this vantage point, Barrio also reiterates his point through the setting:
the many pressures from the negative aspects of human nature are overwhelming, yet the struggle
between both aspects of human nature continues to ensue.
As nightfall approaches, and the workload dwindles to an end, Manuel has completely changed,
and no longer will he stand idol as injustice occurs. Barrio describes how everything finally came to a
standstill: “Sandy dreams, Cool nights. Cold drinks. Soft guitar music…” and “the days work was at last
ended” (92). It is clear that through all of his ordeals, Barrio was depicting Manuel going through a sort of
metamorphosis: evolving into a person who was no longer afraid to stand up for what he believed in, and
knew was correct. Many a times throughout the passage he could have given up, yet as a result if his
prevailing insistence on living, and overcoming, Manuel was not only able to make it through the work
day, but in the end he was finally able to stand up to Robert Morales, and put an end (even if it’s only
temporary) to the injustice and mistreatment of the other lowly workers like himself.
Joshua Jerome
Ryan Gallagher
Advanced Placement Literature
16 November 2010

Works Cited

Barrio, Raymond. The Plum Plum Pickers. Binghamton, New York: Bilingual Press/
Editoral Bilingüe, 1984. 84-94